Building Confidence

Every once in a while we need a little shot of confidence.  We tend to lose confidence when we feel overwhelmed by life, relationships, or the pursuit of our goals.  Whatever the case may be, we often get lost in the day to day grind and we forget just how powerful we are.  

To get back into our power, sometimes it is helpful to remember the difficult things we have already accomplished in our lives, and to celebrate them as personal victories.   Thinking about these personal victories helps us to remember that we have gone through difficult things and have made it to the other side successfully.  It gets us back in touch with our inner bad-a$$.  

I encourage you not only to think about these things, but to write them down.  Make a list.  Add to it over the course of several days. Aim for 100 of them.  Add to it as you celebrate new ones.   Think on it.  Be proud of it.  Feel good about what you have already accomplished in life, and gradually your confidence will be bolstered and you will be able to take the next right step in your journey.

I challenged myself to think of 25 personal victories to give you a jumping off point. It's hard to come up with them at first, but once you begin, it gets easier.  

1.  I successfully complete high school.
2.  I successfully completed college.
3.  I successfully completed grad school while teaching and having my first child.
4.  I have been married almost 29 years.
5.  I moved away from home and thrived on my own after college.
6.  I moved farther away from home and thrived in a new state with my new little family.
7.  I gave birth to 2 pretty cool kids.
8. I taught elementary school for 20 years.
9. I began a second career as a personal trainer and wellness coach.  
10. I am learning to keep houseplants alive.
11.  I am thriving with chronic illness.
12.  I started my own company.
13.  I have competed in 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, 1 marathon, mud races, and sprint triathlons.
14.  I have built muscles.
15.  I have learned to cook.
16.  I have learned to make my own kombucha.
17.  I learned (and forgot) how to knit and crochet.  (I have to relearn!)
18.  I have taken solo road and plane trips.
19.  I have made it through several biopsies-- some scarier than others.
20. I have learned to meditate.

Begin your list today, add to it each day, and remember that you are already powerful and brave.